Bodies recovered from crash near Yellowstone

Posted: May 27, 2014 10:00 p.m.

In this photo taken on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, and released by the Park County (Wyo.) Sheriff's Office, rescue workers recover the bodies of two brothers whose small plane crashed into Howell Mountain near Yellowstone National Park three weeks ago. The bodies of 84-year-old Robert L. Zimmerman of Huntsville, Ala., and 86-year-old Ward H. Zimmerman were airlifted Tuesday after the snowpack was deemed stable enough for the operation. The brothers' 1963 Mooney M20C crashed after taking off from Cody, Wyo., on May 6. (AP Photo/ the Park County (Wyo.) Sheriff's Office)

CODY, Wyo. (AP) — A rescue team has recovered the bodies of two brothers whose small plane crashed into a mountain near Yellowstone National Park three weeks ago.

The bodies of 84-year-old Robert L. Zimmerman of Huntsville, Ala., and 86-year-old Ward H. Zimmerman were airlifted off Howell Mountain on Tuesday after the snowpack was deemed stable enough for the operation. Still, the helicopter was only able to hover above the peak and the brothers’ bodies were lifted out using a long line attached to the chopper.

The brothers’ 1963 Mooney M20C crashed after taking off from Cody on May 6. They planned to fly around Yellowstone before heading to Twin Falls. The wreckage was found May 12 but recovery attempts were delayed because of the avalanche danger.